Reflector button sign



De.31,1'946. MQMMES '2,413,538

REFLECTOR BUTTON S IGN Filed Sept. 7, 1944 A /9 I A /7 Ill /5 INVENTOR MARION Q. ALW-:5

ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 31, 1946 y. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I REFLECTOR BUTTON SIGN Marion C. Almes, CuyahogaFalls, Ohio. Application September 7, 1944;, Serial No. 552,958y

1 The present invention relates to sig-ns and more particularly to Va novel sign construction in which the reector members or surfaces cannot be readily removed.

Among the objects of v:the present construction is the provision of a novel anchor platefor the reflector members, units or surfaces whereby the are held safe .from pilfer..

A; further object. of the invention is theprovision of a novel letter, numeral, design or other suitable insignia. constructed Aof ka substantially indestructible material having a longer .life and able to withstand greater natural wear, shocks and abuse than such parts Vof signs now in use.

Another object of the presentinvention is the provision of a novel, sign construction in, which the reflecting units or surfaces are rigidly and non-removably held in positionby. an' anchor plate embedded in the plastic rmaterial of; the letters, numerals, designs orinsignia .of the sign. In the 'preferred embodiment, `such plastic ,mater-ia] consists of rubber, rubber composition. or other suitable composition capable of .being molded as for example the commercial composition known as tenite.

`Still another object of the present invention. is to provide a molded letter, numeral, designV or Aother insignia with reflector Vmembers or-surfaces, permanently held in an anchor plate molded in the letter, numeral, design or other Vinsignia and rivet holes vpassing through the letter, numeral, design or other insigniagwhereby said letter, numeral, design or Aother insignia maybe riveted to a mounting, v A

I-Ieretofore in signs of the .reflector type that employed reflector memberssuch as glass buttons have suffered very frequent damagevfrom unauthorized persons removing the reflector memf z claims. (ci. all-.130ibers often by the simple expedient of a pocket knife by which they lift or gouge the reflector member from its socket or seat. The extent of this pilfering has grown until it presents a serious 2 l tails, arrangements of parts, features and .constructions, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. V1 is a perspective View .of a sign involving this invention..y

f Fig. 2 is a plan viewl of an anchor plate used in a letter S showing rivet holes and holes through which reflector members will protrude.

Fig. 3 is a sideV elevation of a vreflector member.

Fig. 4 shows a reflector member -in position thev View being taken on line lI--fl of'Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view `.of a letter S punched from .a sheet of rubber. 6 isa plan View .of a letter S punched from .a sheet of rubber and showing holes through which reflector members will protrude.

Fig. FI is Athe assembly ofthe parts. show-n in Figs. 2, 3,- .5 and .6 vand showsv the .assembly as it will appear before being pressed .together by a vulcanizing mold,

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '1.

.Referring to the drawing itwillbeseen that in one form the invention consists of a mounting plate. I0 which may be composed of metal, wood or of any other suitable material sufliciently firm and rigid to retain a rivet or bolt. Attached to the mounting plate lil are lettersV .I I., I2, I3 .and I4. .'Ihese letters are molded rubber letters and in the. .disclosed embodiment the Vletter S .or partis described by way of illustrating .the invention. In Fig.. 2 is shown the anchor plate I;.s which may be of sixteen gauge sheet iron. or of any other suitable rigid material or Vmaterial that will become. rigid as, for example, unvulcanized hardv rubberV compound that will become hard during .the vulcaniaation andmQldine process cf the letter II which will be presently mentioned. The anchor plate I5 has punched therein holes I8 which are spaced apart and positioned so as to properly locate reflector members to outline the letter 5. In each of the holes I6 in the anchor plate I5 is placed a reflecting member I'I. This reflector member is of glass having shoulders I8 and I9. The members I1 are projected into the holes I6 so that the reflector surfaces face one way.

A rubber backing 2U shown in Fig. 5 is punched from a, sheet of unvulcanized rubber compound of approximately .250" thick. For this backing blank I prefer a soft rubber compound of about the consistency of a pneumatic automobile tire tread stock. This strip or blank 20 is placed over the back of the reflector members I6 as they are in position in their anchor plate I5. As will be seen by referring to Fig. 7 the edges of the backing strip 20 extend beyond the edges of the anchor plate I5.

A facing strip or blank 2|' shown in Fig. 6 is punched out of a strip of unvulcanized rubber of approximately .125 thick. It is preferred that the rubber compound in this strip 2| to be the same as that described for backing strip 2G. Strip 2| has formed in it holes 22 lwhich are so spaced and arranged as t ilt over that part nf the reflector members |'I Which extend through the anchor plate I5. will be seen that the edges of facing strip v2| extend beyond the edges of the anchor plate I and that the Ibacking strip 20 and the facing strip 2| are approximately the same Width andthat the anchor plate I5 is sandwiched between them.

By referring to Fig. 7 it 4 blocking access to the reflector members through the rubber backing 20.

It will be obvious to those familiar with the art that applicants invention may be modified by forming strip 2| without the holes 22 and then assemble the members 20, 2| and 22 as shown in Fig. 7 but without the reflector I'I. In this modification the mold on either the top or bottom will carry pins having shoulders corresponding to the shoulders I8 'andr I9 of the reflector II 4which pins will form a reflector receiving hole through the symbol. The sign will then be assembled by placing the reflectors in position in the holes so formed in the symbol and the symbol bolted or otherwise fastened to its mounting plate with the back of the symbol 1 Vresting against the mounting plate and the re- By reference to Figures 6 and 7 it will be seen f that the holes I6 in the anchor plate I5 are not large enough to permit the anchor plate to pass over the shoulder I8 of the reflector member II.

Referring again to Fig. 2 rivet holes 23 eX- tend through the anchor plate.

The molding of the letter II or S is done in the usual manner of molding rubber goods and a detailed description of the vulcanizing mold and method of vulcanizing is considered unnecessary. The lid or top of the mold has formedin it recesses to receive the reflector face of the reflector member II and these faces act as aligning means to locate the anchor plate in the mold cavity. The lid of the mold carries pins which pierce through the facing strip 2| passing through thek holes 23 in the anchor plate and through the backing strip to form rivet holes 24. After molding and vulcanization the letter |I or S is removed from the mold when it Wil1 be found to present a neat attractive appearance the parts Y 2| and 20 being vulcanized firmly together entirely surrounding and covering the anchor plate l5. The reflector surfaces of the reflector members II extend above the face of the letter S thus exposing the member I'I to the light of refleeting purposes.

The member II is attached to the mountin plate I0 by means of rivets 25.

In similar manner the members I2, I3 and I4 are made and used.

It will now be seen that the reflector units ,II cannot be lifted from their positionin the sign as the letter, numeral, design or other insignia is riveted to the mounting plate and the rivet passes through the rigid anchor plate I5 Which in turn anchors the reflector member I I securely in position the reflector members shoulder I8 being too large to pass through the hole I6 in the anchor plate and the mounting plate I 0 ilector end of the symbol projecting through the face of the symbol.

I claim:

1. A sign comprising a rigid mounting plate, at least one symbol permanently attached to said mounting plate, said symbol consisting of a rigid anchor plate having holes spaced apart therein at predetermined positions, said holes defining the shape of the symbol, a reflector member positioned in each of said holes through said symbol, said reflectors having shoulders too large to pass through said anchor plate, a rubber backing and facing molded and vulcanized about said anchor plate with holes formed through said facing at each hole in the anchor plate, said symbol `being attached to the mounting plate with said shoulders of the reflectorsV mounted therein in Contact with said rigid anchor plate and with the end of the reflectors protruding beyond the surface of the said rubber facing. Y Y

` 2. A sign comprising a mounting plate, a rigid nchor plate having the general outline of a symbol to be displayed, a facing and backing about the anchor plate, said anchor plate and facing having aligned holes therethrough adapted to receive reflector members therein, said holes defining the shape of said symbol, reflector members having shoulders too large to pass through said holes in the anchor plate, said reflector members projecting through said holes in said anchor plate, theanchor plate having at least one attachment hole therethrough adapted -to receive a bolt-like attachment member, said anchor plate with its facing and backing, reflector' MARION AIJVIES. 

